Then he showed me the river of the water of Life
bright as crystal
issuing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
On either side of the river
midway between it and the main street of the city
was the tree of Life.
It produced twelve kinds of fruit
yielding a fresh crop month by month
and the leaves of the tree
served as medicine for the nations.
“Nothing accursed will be there” he said;
‘but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in that city.
And His servants:
1. Will render Him holy service
2. Will see His face
3. And His name will be on their foreheads
4. They will be kings for ever and ever
And there will be:
1. No night there
2. They have no need of lamplight or sunlight
(For the Lord God will illumine them)
And he said to me,
“These words are trustworthy and true;
and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
sent His angel to make known to His servants:
the things which must soon happen.
Blessed
is he
who is mindful of
the prophecies
contained in this book.
I John heard and saw these things;
and when I had heard and seen them,
I fell at the feet of the angel
who was showing me them--
to worship him.
But he said to me,
“Do not do that.
I am a fellow servant of yours,
and a fellow servant of your brethren the prophets
and of those who are mindful
of the teachings of this book.
Worship God.”
“Make no secret,” he added
“of the meaning of the prophecies
contained in this book;
for the time for their fulfillment
is now close at hand.
Let the dishonest man act dishonestly still;
let the filthy make himself filthy still;
let the righteous practice righteousness still;
and let the holy keep himself holy still.”
“Lo, I am coming quickly;
and My reward is with Me,
that I may repay every man according to his deeds.
I Am The Alpha and the Omega
The First and The Last
The Beginning and The End
Blessed are those
who wash their robes clean,
that they may have a right to the tree of Life,
and may enter the gates of the city.
The unclean are shut out,
and so are all who practice magic,
all fornicators,
all murderers,
and those who worship idols,
and every one who loves falsehood and tells lies.
“I Jesus have sent My angel
for him solemnly to declare
these things to you among the churches.
I am the Root and Offspring of David
The Bright Morning Star.
The Spirit and the Bride say
“C O M E”
and whoever hears,
let him say,
“C O M E”
and let those who are thirsty come.
Whoever will, let him take the water of Life,
without payment.
“I solemnly declare to every one
who hears the words of the prophecy
contained in this book,
that if any one adds to those words,
god will add to him the plagues spoken of in this book;
and that if any one takes away
from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God will take from him his share in the tree of Life
and in the holy city -- the things described in this book.
“He who solemnly declares all this says,
“YES, I AM COMING QUICKLY”.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints.
Revelation 22
The River of Life
22:1 And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and
of the Lamb.
- The heavenly state is here described as a paradise. A paradise in a city, or a whole city in a paradise! In the first
paradise there were only two persons to behold the beauty of it; but in this second paradise whole cities and nations shall
find abundant delight and satisfaction. (MH)
- The opening verses depict the new creation as Paradise restored, with the serpent banished, the curse abolished,
and access to the tree of life continually open to all (Z)
- Water of life – generally signifies spring or running water; here it may signify incessant communications of happiness
proceeding from God (AC)
- The Water of Life is a symbol of eternal life. Jesus used this same image with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-14).
It pictures the fullness of life with God and the eternal blessings that come when we believe in him and satisfy our spiritual
thirst. (LB)
- The millennial waters represent full Gospel grace (JFB)
- Proceeding from the throne – indicating that all these infinite and eternal blessings come from God and Christ (W)
References: Psalm 46:4 (There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High);
Ezekiel 47:1 (then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward
the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar);
Revelation 1:1; 4:6; 7:17; 21:9; 22:6, 17
22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve
fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
- This tree of life is fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne of God (MH)
- There is always fruit upon them. The fruit is not only pleasant, but wholesome. (MH)
- The presence of God in heaven is the health and happiness of the saints (MH)
- Healing is still needed during the Millennium (dj)
- Death reigns now because of sin; even in the millennial earth sin, and therefore death, though much limited, shall not
altogether cease. But in the final and heavenly city on earth, sin and death shall utterly cease. (JFB)
References: Ezekiel 47:12 (Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither,
and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their
leaves for medicine); Genesis 2:9 (And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil); Revelation 2:7; 21:21, 24; 22:14, 19
22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His
servants shall serve Him.
- The perfect freedom of this paradise from everything that is evil. The devil has nothing to do there. (MH)
- Instead of curse the best MSS., versions etc., read “cursed person”. As there shall be no more sinning against God,
so there shall be no more curse of God upon the people; for they shall all be His servants, and serve Him. (AC)
References: Zechariah 14:11 (The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely
inhabited); Ezekiel 48:35 (All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD
IS THERE); Revelation 7:15; 21:3, 23
22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
- God will own them, as having his seal and name on their foreheads (MH)
- Enjoy what is called the beatific vision; and they shall exhibit the fullest evidence that they belong entirely to Him (AC)
References: Matthew 5:8 (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God); Psalm 17:15 (As for me, I shall behold Thy face in
righteousness; I will be satisfied with thy likeness when I awake); 42:2 (My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and
appear before God?); Revelation 7:3; 14:1
22:5 There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them
light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
• Need no lamp – do not have (NAS)
• Formerly, it was the special privilege of the high priest alone to enter the Holy of Holies to meet God, and that only
one day in a year. Now, it is the privilege of the whole redeemed community to be in God’s presence continuously, to
serve Him and to reign with Him forever. (TB)
References: Psalm 36:9 (for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light); Revelation 7:15; 20:4; 21:23, 25; Daniel 7:18 (But the saints
of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever), 27 (The kingdom and dominion, and
the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him); Zechariah 14:7 (For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord,
neither day nor night; but it will come about that at evening time there will be light); Matthew 19:28 (And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you,
that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel); Romans 5:17 (For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who
receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ)
22:6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the spirits of the
prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
- We have here a solemn ratification of the contents of this book. This is confirmed by the name and nature of that
God who gave out these discoveries: He is The Lord God, Faithful, and True. (MH)
- Ratification of the contents of this book shown by: (MH)
o The name and nature of God
o The messengers He chose
o Confirmed by their accomplishment
o By the integrity of the angel who spoke
o By the order given to leave the book open (He does not speak in secret)
o By the effect this book will have upon men
o Christ’s rule of judgment at the great day
o It is the word of Him who is the Author
o It condemns and excludes from heaven all wicked persons
o By the testimony of Jesus
o By an open invitation to all to come and partake
o By the joint testimony of the Spirit of God
o A solemn sanction to guard the word
References: Hebrews 10:37 (“For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry); Habakkuk 2:3, 4;(For the vision is yet for
an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold
the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith) Revelation 1:1; 19:9; 21:5, 9; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 14:32 (and the
spirits of prophets are subject to prophets); Hebrews 12:9 (Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall
we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?)
22:7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
- This is not to be confounded with the coming of Christ to dwell in the heart of the fully surrendered believer; nor yet,
His coming to the believer at death; but it is His coming to close up this dispensation; for though chapters 21 and 22
disclose visions that follow the Millennium, yet from verse 6 of this chapter, the narrative connects back to the former
part of the prophecy (W)
- Keeping the words involves not only retaining them in memory but regulating one’s life by them, especially maintaining
one’s Christian confession without compromise. (Z)
- The sixth beatitude (14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14) (NIV)
References: Revelation 1:3, 11; 3:3, 11; 16:15; 22:9, 10, 12, 18, 20
22:8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down
to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
- He affirms that the visions of Revelation were his authentic experiences and not literary inventions. (Z)
- Prostrated before him as before a superior being to express gratitude (AC)
References: Revelation 1:1; 19:10
22:9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren
the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
- The first of the Ten Commandments is “You may worship no other god than me” (Exodus 20:3). Jesus said that the
greatest command of Moses’ laws “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37). Here, at
the end of the Bible, this truth is reiterated. The angel instructs John to “worship God alone”. God alone is worthy of our worship
and adoration. (LB)
References: Revelation 1:1, 11; 19:10; 22:10, 18
22:10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
- Publish them for the present benefit of all God’s people (W)
- Do not lay them up for future generations; they concern the present times (AC)
- The angel tells John what to do after his vision is over instead of sealing up what he has written, as Daniel was
commanded to do (Daniel 12:4-12), the scroll is left open to let others see it so that all can read and understand. The
Book of Revelation was a message for John’s time and it is equally relevant today. (LB)
- Because the time is short, there will be but little opportunity for repentance and change (Z)
References: Daniel 8:26 (and the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many
days in the future); Revelation 1:3, 11; 10:4; 22:9, 18
22:11 “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still, he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is
righteous, let him do right still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
- If after all these solemn admonitions and warnings, anyone will still persevere in his evil ways, let him do so; there is
no remedy for him. (W)
- The time of fulfillment will come so suddenly that there will be but little space for repentance and amendment. What
is done must be done instantly; and let him that is holy persevere, and hold fast what he has received (AC)
References: Ezekiel 3:27 (But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God’. He who hearts,
let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.); Daniel 12:10 (Many will be purged, purified and refined;
but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand)
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to
his work.
- According – as his work is (NAS)
- The principle has already been laid down in 2:23; 20:12 (Z)
References: Isaiah 40:10 (Behold, the Lord god shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him,
and His work before Him); 62:11 (Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, surely your salvation
is coming; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.”); Jeremiah 17:10 (I the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, even to
give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds); Matthew 16:27 (For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory
of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds); Revelation 2:23; 20:12; 22:7
22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
References: Isaiah 41:4 (Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last
I am He.’”); Revelation 2:8, 17; 21:6
22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may
enter through the gates into the city.
- The original is much more expressive, “That they may have authority over the tree of life”; an authority founded on
right, this right founded on obedience to the commandments of God, and that obedience produced by the grace of God
working in them. (AC)
- The last of the seven beatitudes (NIV)
- Notice the absolute separation of those who have washed their robes and those who have not. Over and over it is
asserted in scripture that there are only two classes of people, and only two destinies (HBH)
References: Daniel 12:12 (Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days); Proverbs 11:30
(the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise); Revelation 7:14; 21:12, 27; 22:2
22:15 Outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever
loves and practices a lie.
- Different classes of sinners (W)
- Dogs – those who are uncircumcised in heart (AC)
- Dogs – a term applied to all types of ceremonially impure persons. In Deuteronomy 23:18 it designates a male
prostitute. (NIV)
- This seems to precede the White throne judgment; since, as the result of that judgment, all the wicked are to be cast
into the lake of fire (W)
References: 1 Corinthians 6:9 (do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites); Philippians 3:2 (Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of
the mutilation!); Galatians 5:19 (Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality); Matthew 8:12 (but the
sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth); Deuteronomy 23:18
(You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any votive offering, for both of these are
an abomination to the Lord your God); Matthew 7:6 (Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they
trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces); Revelation 21:8
22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and
the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
References: Numbers 24:17 (I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but no near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of
Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult); Matthew 2:2; (Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we saw His star in the East, and have come to worship Him); Revelation 1:1, 4, 11; 2:28; 3:22; 5:5; 22:6
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “come!” And let him who
thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
- What comes from heaven in a promise should be sent back to heaven in a prayer (MH)
- Whoever – is felt by some to present a problem, it is a problem imported from outside; it does not arise from the
context. The blindest idolater, the fiercest persecutor, the most abject apostate–may come if he will and accept the full
and free benefits which the gospel provides (Z)
References: Isaiah 55:1 (Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine
and milk without money and without price); Revelation 2:7; 7:17; 14:13; 21:2, 6, 9; 22:1
22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these
things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
- The warning is not intended for textual critics who prefer longer or shorter readings in this or any other book of
the NT (Z)
References: Deuteronomy 4:2 (You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments
of the Lord your God which I command you); 12:32 (Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away
from it); Proverbs 30:6 (Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar); Revelation 15:6-16, 21; 22:7
22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
- Book of Life – NU, M tree of life (NKJ)
- Take away – lessen this meaning, curtail the sense, explain away the spirit and design (AC)
References: Exodus 32:33 (And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.); Deuteronomy 4:2
(You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I
command you); 12:32 (Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it); Proverbs 30:6 (Do not
add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar); Revelation 21:10-22:5; 22:7
22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come,
Lord Jesus!
- ‘Soon’ means at any moment, and we must be ready for Him, always prepared for His return. (LB)
References: 1 Corinthians 16:22 (If any one does not love the Lord, let him be accursed, Maranatha); Revelation 1:2; 22:7
22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
- The apostles prayer for every one for whom he wrote the Book of Revelation (W)
Revelation closes human history as Genesis opened it – in Paradise. But there is one distinct difference in
Revelation – evil is gone forever. (LB)
References: Romans 16:20 (And the God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet)